Material transfer unit



Sept. 24, 1963 l. VON FUNK MATERIAL TRANSFER UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1961 Fig.3

Irwin Von Funk 1 N VEN TOR. BY QM W and Sept. 24, 1963 l. VON FUNK 3,104,782

MATERIAL TRANSFER UNIT Filed Jan. 18, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Irwin Von Funk 1N VENTOR.

Sept. 24, 1963 l. VON FUNK 3,104,782

MATERIAL TRANSFER UNIT Filed Jan. 18, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4

/rw/'n Von Funk IN VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,164,782 ll/IATERTAL T @FER UNIT Lwin Von Ennis, 217 E. Main St, hi'acnngie, Fa. Filed Elan. TS, 1951, Ser. No. 83,486 9 (Ql. ZZZ- 1135) The present invention generally relates to a material transfer unit and is especially adapted for transferring pulverized material, such as sand or the like.

The present invention is specifically adapted for filling sand boxes on locomotives for use as a traction aid when needed. The apparatus is pneumatically operated and involves a novel method of as well as a novel apparatus for dispensing dry sand from a storage area, shipping vessel such as a box car, covered hopper car or the like into a diesel locomotive sand box.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic apparatus for transferring dry material such as sand including a novel control assembly and a novel vacuum producing unit which includes a novel arrangement for cleaning the filter for the unit each time a dispensing cycle has been completed.

Another feature incorporated into the present invention is the provision of the vacuum gauge which will indicate the vacuum inside the filter for indicating when the tank which receives the sand is full.

Another important feature of the present invention is to provide a sand transfer unit including two communicated cylinders controlled by a novel control apparatus which enables sand to be dispensed into one cylinder while being discharged from the other.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a sand transfer unit which is quite simple in construction, easy to operate, eflicient in operation and generally inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts through-out, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the sand transfer unit of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the details of construction of the unit;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FKGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the structural detail of the vacuum producing mechanism and the automatically operated filter cleaner or backwash device;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 55 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional View of the control for the device.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral it) generally designates the sand transfer unit of the present invention including an upper cylinder 12. and a lower cylinder 14 each of which is substantially hollow in the interior and including various structural features. The upper cylinder 12 forms a vacuum chamber while the lower cylinder forms a pressure chamber in which the vacuum chamber is designated by reference numeral 16 and the pressure chamber designated by reference numeral 18. The vacuum chamber is placed above the BJMJhZ ?atented Sept. 2 1963 pressure chamber and the vacuum chamber 16 includes a bottom panel 20 having an opening 22 formed therein and defined by a short cylindrical sleeve 24 extending therethrough and rigidly affixed thereto. The top of the pressure chamber 18 is for-med by a top wall 26 generally concave on the upper surface or convex on the bottom surface and including a centrally disposed valve means 28 therein which is closed during the dispensing operation and open at other times.

The present device works completely by compressed air and any suitable source of compressed air may be employed such as a conventional compressor, suitable air line or the like.

Of course, electrical vacuum producers, vacuum pumps and other methods of producing a vacuum may be employed and electrical controls such as solenoids could be employed for controlling the device.

At the upper end of the upper cylinder 10, there is provided a vacuum producing device generally designated by numeral 39 which draws air from the vacuum chamber 14- through a hollow box-like filter 32. A vacuum gauge 34 is communicated with the interior of the filter 32 for indicating the vacuum inside the filter. When the vacuum chamber is full, maximum vacuum will build inside the filter as additional material cannot be drawn into the vacuum chamber and air will be evacuated to the extent of the power of the vacuum producing unit. The vacuum gauge 34 may be calibrated with a color code to indicate filling and as the vacuum gauge needle or indicator moves to maximum vacuum produced and remains in this area the marking will indicate full- The vacuum chamber 16 is sealed or closed by virtue of a top plate 36 and a gasket 38 and retaining bolts 40. Extending interiorly of'the vacuum chamber 16 is the sand inlet pipe 42 which terminates in a down turned end 44. The other end of the inlet pipe 42 is connected with a suitable hose 45 or the like which extends to a storage hopper, hopper car or any other source of supply of dry sand. Disposed immediately below the discharge end 4-4 of the inlet 42 is a transverse screen 48 resting on a peripheral ledge 50 which retains the screen 48 just below the discharge end 44- of the inlet 42 thus assuring that all sand will be screened as it enters the vacuum chamber 16.

The vacuum producing unit 35) of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURE 4 and includes a venturi 52 having an air inlet pipe '54 and a venturi throat 56 communicating with the atmosphere at a discharge area 58. The venturi 52. also includes a laterally extending inlet pipe 6i) communicated into the interior of the filter 32 for evacuating air theretrom due to the reduction in pressure by the increase in velocity of the air fiowing through the venturi 52. The discharge end of the venturi 52 discharges to the ground surface or to the atmosphere so that the vacuum producing air will !be discharged harmlessly.

The air supply pipe 54 is provided with a T-connection 62 connected with a pipe 54 extending laterally therefrom and including a flexible check valve 66 having a small aperture 68 therein forming a bleed aperture whereby the check valve 66 will be opened by pressurized air in the air supply pipe 64,.

The lateral line 64 which extends through the valve housing 74F and includes the valve 66 therein and is connected with a tank or reservoir 72 which is also pressurized when the air for producing the vacuum flows'through the venturi 52.

The tank 72. includes a pipe 74 extending between the interior of the filter 32 and the interior of the tank 72. Disposed against the inner end of the pipe 74 and disposed interiorly of the tank 72 is a valve 76 seated v.3 against the inner end of the pipe 74 and having a compression coil spring 73 disposed between the valve 76 and the end of the tank 72. for normally urging the valve '76 away from the valve seat formed on the end of the tube 74 whereby pressured air in the tank 72 would force air back through the filter 32 in reverse direction to the normal flow thereof.

When the tan 1 72 is pressurized, the valve '76 will be held against the valve seat. However, when the vacuum producing mechanism stops operation, the pressure in the tank 72 will bleed back through the small orifice 68 thus reducing the pressure gradually in the tank 72. When the pressure has been reduced a sufiicient quantity to enable the spring 78 to move the valve 76 away from the tubular member 74, the valve 76 will 'be moved outwardly thus enabling residual pressure within the tank 72 to flow through pipe 74 into the filter 32 thus forcing material from the screen of the filter.

Communicating the vacuum chamber 16 with the pressure chamber 18 is the valve assembly 28 which includes a hollow valve seat 30 having an annular resilient seal 82 disposed therein for engagement with a vertically movable and generally frusto-conical valve member 84. The valve member 34 is provided with a depending shank or stem 86 slidably receiving in a vertical tubular member 83 extending downwardly from a point disposed below the valve seat 80 whereby the valve member 34 may reciprocate vertically between the full lines position shown in FIGURE 2 and the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 2. The vertical tubular member 88 forms a guide sleeve for the stem 86 and also is connected to a horizontal pipe 90 extending outwardly of the lower cylinder 14. The lower cylinder 14 is also provided with an air exhaust 92 therein and the bottom of the cylinder is generally conical in shape as indicated in FIGURE 2. The bottom is designed by numeral 94 and includes a discharge pipe or hose 96 for discharging sand into the locomotive sand box. The discharge conduit d6 is connected with a discharge opening 98 by suitable coupling 169.

The entire assembly may be supported in any suitable manner such as on legs 192 or by virtue of a bracket 194- or any combination thereof. Also, the lower cylinder 1% is provided with an inspection hole 1% and a removable inspection plate 1% for ease of clean-out thereof. Also, the upper cylinder 12 telescopes into the upper end of the lower cylinder 14 above the top plate 26 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and each of the cylinders has a peripheral flange 119 thereon resting on each other with a sealing gasket 112 disposed therebetween. Also, the upper cylinder 12 is provided with a depending flange or series of brackets 11 toverlying the flanges 110 and including bolts 116 for securing the cylinders in superposed relation.

Basically, the pressure chamber 18 includes a main compressed air inlet port or pipe 90, an exhaust port 92, a filling port formed by the valve seat 80 which can be alternately sealed and opened and a material discharge port 98. The pressure at which the pressure chamber is operated will be. determined by the height to which the sand is to be elevated and the total distance of transfer. The pressure is varied, depending upon these two factors and the flow rate required. The pop-up valve 34 will be closed when air is introduced to the pressure chamber 18 thus sealing the pressure chamber from the vacuum chamber. .T his valve will automatically drop to the dotted line position when pressure is reduced to atmospheric thus putting the pressure chamber in communication with the vacuum chamber and permitting sand to flow into the pressure chamber from the vacuum chamber. After the valve 84 has closed, compressed air will con tinue to flow through this valve guide plate 88 until the desired pressure in the pressure chamber is reached. The air inlet line 9% is provided with a check valve 118 which allows air to enter the pressure chamber but which will producing mechanism by virtue of pipe 124 without any 19 pressure reduction as in the pressure chamber. The pipe 124 is in direct communication with the air inlet pipe 54 of the vacuum producing mechanism;

The main air control valve which turns the air on or off is designated by reference numeral 126 and operates the unit and functions to operate other control. The control valve 12s is operated by one or more pilot valves connected with lines 123 which extends along the discharge pipe 96 and terminates in a pilot valve 130. The pilot or 'ead man control valve 139 is normally off and at this time pressure in l'me 128 is equal to incoming line pressure and valve 126 is closed, thus rendering the unit inoperative. pilot valve i329, pressure is reduced in line 128 and valve 126 opens thus permitting air to cycle to the unit and the control. Valve 13%) is generally placed at a convenient spot on the sanding hose or conduit 96 near the point where the sand box is being filled. This permits the operator to control the cycle of the unit as desired, and if, for any reason, the operator loses control of the sanding hose, the valve 136 will return to its normal oif position and stop the unit from operating thus providing a safety device.

By permitting air to bleed from the a The pneumatic controls include a valve control 132 for a pressed air to enter the unit through pipe N) which also pressurizes line 134 thus closing valve 132. When the valve 126 moves to a normally closed position, a bottom port therein opens thus exhausting air from line 134 and a the valve 132 thus enabling valve 132 to assume its normally open position and permitting compressed air in the manually operated valve 136 is disposed in the exhaust line $2 between the pressure chamber 18 and the control valve 132 and the manual valve 136 is disposed in a pipe T and is normally closed but will function as an exhaust valve should valve 132 fail to operate. Also, a safety relief valve 138 is provided in the exhaust line 92 so that the pressure chamber cannot be pressurized above a predetermined set maximum operating pressure. 5 In operating the unit, the sand hose 96 is disposed in 5 or dead man" valve 134 is operated andmoves to an open position thus permitting compressed air to escape from line 128 thereby causing a pressure difierential and permitting valve 126 to open whereby compressed air will i energize the unit. In the sequence of operation, the main air control valve 126 permits compressed air to flow to,

venturi 52 thus operating the vacuum producing mechanism so that sand is drawn into the vacuum chamber 16.

Compressed air also fills the filter cleaning storage tank valve 132 is also closed so that compressed air cannot pressure chamber to exhaust to atmospheric pressure. A

proximity to the sand box on a locomotive and the pilot escape from the exhaust port in the pressure chamber.

Air fiows through the pressure regulator 129, sand check I 7 valve 118 thus raising the sealing valve 84 which then seals the pressure chamber 18 from the vacuum chamber 16 and prohibits air from escaping from pressure cha n- 7 reached and maintained. Sand is then forced through the only remaining port 98 into the sand hose 96 and into the locomotive sand box. When the locomotive sand box is nearly full, the pilot valve or dead man valve 139 is released and the unit will then shut off after a few seconds delay.

The sequence of events in stopping the operation of the device will result from incoming line pressure pressurizing the line 128 until the incoming line pressure and the pressure in line 123 is equalized at which time valve 126 closes off air to the unit and exhausts air in line 134 through a bottom port in the valve 126. This permits the automatic relieve valve 132 to open thereby permitting air to escape from the pressure chamber 18. When air is completely exhausted from pressure chamber, the pop-up valve 34 will drop to the dotted line position thus permitting sand which was drawn into the vacuum chamber to transfer to pressure chamber to replace that which was transferred to the locomotive sand box.

When the valve 26 is closed, air immediately ceases flowing to the venturi and the vacuum will be immediately broken by the in-rush of atmospheric air reverse flowing through the venturi and into the filter and into the vacuum chamber thus breaking the vacuum in the vacuum chamber and enabling sand to flow by gravity through the discharge opening As the compressed air in the storage tank 72 is slowly bled through the small opening 68 in the check valve 66, the pressure in the tank 72 is reduced to the setting of the spring 78 thus enabling the spring 78 to open the valve 76 and permitting the remaining compressed air to escape back through the pipe 74 into the filter 32 thus producing a puff of compressed air which will enter the inside of the filter thus cleaning the filter. The unit will now remain inoperative until the valve 130 is again opened to restart the cycle.

The unit is substantially balanced in that sand will be drawn into the vacuum chamber 16 approximately as fast as it is expelled by the pressure chamber. Certain factors tend to upset this balance such as thepressure of incoming, air and the distance of transfer. If the unit is permitted to operate with an unbalanced flow, it would eventually run empty. In order to offset this condition, the unit should be permitted to run with the sand discharging line closed in order to fill the vacuum chamber. Additionally, if several locomotive sand boxes are being sanded at short intervals, the unit may be operated as much as possible between sanding to assure a constant supply of sand. It is also important that after the vacuum chamber is filled that the unit be turned oif to permit sand to fiow from the vacuum chamber into the pressure chamber.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide the vacuum chamber with the vacuum gauge 34- so that when the sand level reaches the point of the bottom of the inlet elbow 44, additional material cannot be drawn into the cylinder. At this point, the vacuum. producing unit will exhaust air from the vacuum chamber above the inlet elbow 44 thus running the vacuum gauge to the highest point possible to produce with the vacuum producing unit. When this point is reached and the vacuum gauge remains in this position, it will indicate that the vacuum chamber is filled with sand. Thus, by placing a color code on the vacuum gauge dial indicating filling and filled, there is provided a visual control of the level of sand inside the vacuum chamber.

Momentary maximum vacuum indication may show on the gauge during operation and may be caused by such factors as slugging of material in the vacuum material transfer line, that is, a solid column of material enters the line 46 but these indications will be only momentary and are easily distinguishable by the operator. if these fluctuations are quite frequent, it will also indicate that the sand is not receiving proper aeration or transfer and an adjustment may be required.

The sand hose 96 may be provided with a manual valve for closing the sand hose during operation of the vacuum chamber without discharge of sand and the various control units including check valve 113, regulater 12%, main valve 126-, pressure relief valve 132, manual valve 136 and safety valve 138 all are of conventional construction having a particular orientation as disclosed. Also, the present invention may be employed for conveying many different materials for many different purposes and may have sized relationships required for a particular installation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A material transfer unit comprising a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber, said vacuum chamber being disposed above the pressure chamber, means communicating the pressure chamber with the vacuum chamber for gravity flow of material 't'herebetween, valve means for said communicating means between the pressure chamber and vacuum chamber, a material inlet line communicating with a source of material at atmospheric conditions at one end of the line and extending into the upper portion of the vacuum chamber atits other end, a vacuum producing unit communicated with the upper portion of the vacuum chamber for exhausting air therefrom and causing material to be pumped into the vacuum chamber due to the pressure differential existing in the material inlet line, a material 'outlet adjacent the bottom of the pressure chamber, a pressure inlet in the pressure chamber, a pressure outlet in the pressure chamber, said valve means including a valve member operated in response to admission of and exhause of air in the pressure chamber and control means for selectively operating the vacuum producing unit and pressurizing the pressure chamber for closing the valve means in the communicating means between the pressure chamber and vacuum chamber and pressurizing the pressure chamber for discharging material therein and stopping operation of the vacuum producing unit and exhausting the pressure chamber for opening the valve means thereby communieating the pressure chamber with the vacuum chamber and permitting gravity flow of material from the vacuum chamber into the pressure chamber.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said vacuum producing unit includes a venturi selectively connected with an air supply and communicated with the vacuum chamber for exhausting air therefrom, filter means overlying the communication between the venturi and the vacuum chamber, and means operated in response to cessation of the vacuum producing unit for cleaning the filter.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for discharging material from the pressure chamber includes an elongated hose, and a control valve adjacent the discharge end of the hose for enabling control of the material transfer unit, said control valve adjacent the discharge end of the hose being normally closed and automatically returned to a closed position upon release of manual pressure thereon. V

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for discharging material from the pressure chamber includes an elongated hose, and a control valve adjacent the discharge end of the hose for enabling control .of the material transfer unit, said control valve adjacent the discharge end of the hose being normally closed and automatically returned to a closed position upon release of manual pressure thereon, and a pressure operated con trol valve controlling the air supply to the vacuum producing unit and the pressure in the pressure chamber,

said control valve adjacent the end of the hose controlling the pressure in the pressure operated control valve.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said vacuum producing unit includes a venturi having a throat communicated with the vacuum chamber, said venturi hav ing an inlet selectively connected with an air supply for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber, filter means overlying the communication between the venturi and the vacuum chamber, and means operated in response to cessation of the vacuum producing unit for cleaning the filter.

6. The combination of claim 5, said means including a pressure tank, a pipe communicating the pressure tank and the filter, spring biased, normally open valve means in said pipe, at pressure pipe communicating the pressure tank with the air supply for pressurizing the tank during operation of the venturi with the pressure in the tank maintaining the valve means closed, and bleed means in said pressure pipe for reducing the pressure in the pressure tank after flow of air to the venturi has stopped thereby permitting the valve means to open while a predetermined pressure still exists in the tank thereby allowing pressurized air to blow out the filter.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said bleed means includes a check valve having a small orifice therein, said check valve being disposed in said pressure pipe.

8. In combination with a chamber wherein a vacuum is induced, a vacuum producing unit comprising a venturi having a throat communicating with said vacuum chamber, an air supply, said venturi having an inlet connected with said air supply whereby upon air being forced through said inlet and venturi a pressure difierential will be created betweensaid throat of the venturi and the valve means closed, and bleed means in said pressure pipe (for reducing the pressure in the pressure tank after flow of air to the venturi has stopped thereby permitting the valve means to open while a predetermined pressure still exists in the tank thereby allowing pressurized air to flow out the filter.

9. The combination of claim 8' wherein said bleed means includes a check valve having a small orifice therein, said check valve being disposed in said pressure pipe.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Batterson et al. Sept. 21, 1937 Carter June 27, 1950 

1. A MATERIAL TRANSFER UNIT COMPRISING A PRESSURE CHAMBER AND A VACUUM CHAMBER, SAID VACUUM CHAMBER BEING DISPOSED ABOVE THE PRESSURE CHAMBER, MEANS COMMUNICATING THE PRESSURE CHAMBER WITH THE VACUUM CHAMBER FOR GRAVITY FLOW OF MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN, VALVE MEANS FOR SAID COMMUNICATING MEANS BETWEEN THE PRESSURE CHAMBER AND VACUUM CHAMBER, A MATERIAL INLET LINE COMMUNICATING WITH A SOURCE OF MATERIAL AT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AT ONE END OF THE LINE AND EXTENDING INTO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VACUUM CHAMBER AT ITS OTHER END, A VACUUM PRODUCING UNIT COMMUNICATED WITH THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VACUUM CHAMBER FOR EXHAUSTING AIR THEREFROM AND CAUSING MATERIAL TO BE PUMPED INTO THE VACUUM CHAMBER DUE TO THE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL EXISTING IN THE MATERIAL INLET LINE, A MATERIAL OUTLET ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF THE PRESSURE CHAMBER, A PRESSURE INLET IN THE PRESSURE CHAMBER, A PRESSURE OUTLET IN THE PRESSURE CHAMBER, SAID VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A VALVE MEMBER OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO ADMISSION OF AND EXHAUSE OF AIR IN THE PRESSURE CHAMBER AND CONTROL MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY OPERATING THE VACUUM PRODUCING UNIT AND PRESSURIZING THE PRESSURE CHAMBER FOR CLOSING THE VALVE MEANS IN THE COMMUNICATING MEANS BETWEEN THE PRESSURE CHAMBER AND VACUUM CHAMBER AND PRESSURIZING THE PRESSURE CHAMBER FOR DISCHARGING MATERIAL THEREIN AND STOPPING OPERATION OF THE VACUUM PRODUCING UNIT AND EXHAUSTING THE PRESSURE CHAMBER FOR OPENING THE VALVE MEANS THEREBY COMMUNICATING THE PRESSURE CHAMBER WITH THE VACUUM CHAMBER AND PERMITTING GRAVITY FLOW OF MATERIAL FROM THE VACUUM CHAMBER INTO THE PRESSURE CHAMBER. 